Latch-lever lock



l March 30 19 26. 1,579,095

J. C. EDWARDS LATCH LEVER LOCK Filed May '1, 1924 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Dvvslv-roR g g W7 WITNESS 5Y9 A fl'rrozmzvs J. C. EDWARDS LATCH LEVERLOCK March 30 1926. 1,579,095

Filed May 1, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lhrlvzss 55 ceding the shifting ofthe lever,

Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

UNITED, STATES JOHN c. EDWARDSQOF UTICA, NEW YORK.

LA CH-LEVER LOCK.

Application filed May 1, 1924, Serial No. 710,285.. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN Q'EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, of Utica, in the county of Oneida, in the 5 State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements inLatch-LeverfLocks, of whichthe following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is afull, clear, andexact description.

This invention relates to devices for railway switch and signaloperating levers which are usually assembled in battery relation upon asuitable supporting bed within a relatively small area and preferablywithin a tower or other protective housing along the railway withinpracticable distances from the switches or signals to be operated.

' One of the objects is to provide 20 compact and efficient lockingmeans for levers of this character so that a battery of similar leversequipped with the locks may be installed in a smaller area than hasheretofore been practiced without 'in any way interfering withthe freeoperation of each lever and its locking means independently oftheothers.

These levers are usually-provided with a latch rod adapted to be foperated at will ,0 to cooperate with theusual rocker arm-and othersuitable mecl ianism for retaining the lever in its adjustedposit-ion,and another object of this invention is to establish anelectrically controlled locking connection between the lever and latchrodWhereby a slight endwise movement of the latch rod relatively to thelever will automatically release the lock and permitvthe latch rod andlever to perform vtheir usual functions in releasing, adjusting andsetting the railway switches or signals. A

Another object is to provide the locking segmentand locking boltwith'cooperativemeans for positively restoring the bolt to its lockingposition for locking the latch rod when the latter is returned by itsretracting spring. 7 I Q .One of the specific'objects is to'connect Ianelectric switch in the lock magnet circuit eration' of the latch rodagainst the action of its retractingspring for energizing the magnet.and withdrawing the locking'bolt from its locking position immediatelypreelectric locking 1 a simple,

9 and to close they switch'by slight initial ops Other objects-and usesrelating to specific parts of the lock operatingand releasing devicewill be broughtoutin the following description.

In the drawings: j I u Figure -1 is a side elevation of a reverselyoperating lever and my improved latch lock mounted' thereon.

Figure "2 isan enlarged side elevation of the lock operating-andreleasing "mechanism with the cover removed showing'tlie adjacentportions of the lever and latch rod. Figure 3 1s a vertical sectionalview taken in the plane of line 33, Figure 2, with-the lock cover inplace.=

Figures l, 5 and" 6 are detail sectional views taken respectively in theplanes of lines 4.4:, 55 and 6-6, Figure 2. l

This locking, operating and releasing mechanism is adapted to be used inconnection *withany of the standard forms of'railway? switch and signaloperating levers as -1- having alatch rod mounted thereon for useinconnection with any of the well-known forms ofdevices' for retainingthe lever in its adjusted position, said lever being pivoted at 3 to anysuitable supporting base and provided with reverse- 1y extending arms:+t for connection with 1 i the railway switches or signals not shown.

The latch rod 2' is slidable lengthwise of and in proximity'to'one'edgeof the lever 1'and is guided in its verticalimov'ement in'bearings 5+ ofa bracket 6' which is secured to said lever in proximity to but avrelatively short. distance below the locking device, said latch rodbeing extended beyond the lower and upper' b'earings 5 and hasit'slow-er end provided with "a shoulder ;7, for connection with anysuitable means for holding the lever in its adjusted position whiletheupper end of the rod-is pivotally connected-at '-8 to an op- 4erating handle '9 whichin turn is pivoted at -'10. to the lever 1' some'distance above the lock presently described,

whereby inward rocking movementof the of a retracting spring 11-.

able lengthwise of and upon the latchrod -2 and is held iii-itsadjusted-position by clamping bolts 13 which pass through registeringapertures in the clamp '12' free end of thehandle towardjthe leverwilldraw the rodnupwardly against the action Y f 105 A split clamp 12+ isslidably adjust ion and latch rod 2, said clamp being provided with aradially projecting locking pin 14. j

A lock-supporting frame -15 is secured by clamping bolts -16 to one sideof the lever 1 to extend some distance above 7 and below the locking pin1et and is provided with a removable box-shaped cover 17 which is heldin place by a key lock 18 thereon, adapted to engagerakeeper 19 on theframe to cooperate with said frame in forming a protective housing fortheinclosed locking mechanism.

A vertically oscillatory locking segment or keeper --20 is journaledupon a supporting stud 21' on the frame 15- and 1s provided at one sideof the stud '-2l:

with a radially extending arm -22Vhav.- ing anelongated slot 23 forreceiving the pin 14 and establishing an opera a pair of verticallyspaced bracket rings -25- on the frame l5 and preferably cast integraltherewith so as to embrace the lower and upper ends of the solenoid andsupport the same in a vertical position, the

' ring -25- being connected by a central connecting bar 25, Figure 2. j

The solenoidis provided with av vertically movablecoaxial plunger 26extending downwardly therefrom and guided in an apertured lug -2 7"onthe frame -15-, said lug being'p'rovided with a movable section 27 heldin place by screws '28 to permit access of the plunger for removal andreplacement when-desired and also to take up wear.

The lower end. of the plunger is recessed to form a shoulder 29 which ismovable into and out of a peripheral notch 30 v in the upper edge of thesegment 20, said edge being preferably concentric with theaxis of thestud -21- and is adapted to travel 'in close proximity to the lowersimilarly curved face of the guide lug 27- 'asthe segment 20' is rockedvertically.

The intermediate portion of the segment -20 between the stud 21- andnotch 30- is provided with an opening -31- for. receiving a radiallyprojecting pin 32 on the lower end of the plunger i 26', the upper wallof a portion of the opening 31 being provided with an inclined camface33 forengaging said pin. 32 and restoring the plunger 26 toits-locking position in the notch -'30 when the arm 22- of the segmentis rocked downwardly by. a corresponding movement of the latch rod -2-,

The upper portion of the segment 20- having the notch -30, overlaps uponthe recessed portion of the plunger -26 between the shoulder 29 and pin32- so as to travel in the recess and to assist in guiding the plungerand segment in their relative movements.

The peripheral length of the notch -30 is slightly greater than thecorresponding width or diameter of the adjacent portion of the plunger26 to permita limited vertical rocking movement of the segmentrelatively to the plunger when the latter is in its locking position inthe recess 30- for a purpose presently described. a

A. horizontal rock shaft 34 is journaled in transversely spaced bearings-35 on the frame 15, and on this rock shaft between the bearin s 3-5-,is secured-a circuit-controlling drum -36 of insulatbetween the bearings35 to extend some 7 distance above and below the insulator drum 36 butin spaced relation thereto and upon this insulating block are mountedseparate pairs of contact brushes -3 9 and 39' the brushes .39 beingsecured by binding posts 4(l to the insulating block 37 to engagediametrically opposite sides of the contact ring while the brushes -39are securedby bindingposts -40 to the same insulating block in'spacedrelation to the binding posts 40- to engage diametrically opposite sidesof the segmental contact ring '-38 H i V The ends of the segmental ring38 are spaced apart leaving an intervening portion .of the insulatingdrum -36 exposed for contact with one of the brushes 39' while the otherbrush 39"-remains in contact with the segmentalring -3 8 as shown inFiguresQ and 3.

Mounted upon the insulating block +37- is a pair of terminals -4ll forreceiving lead wires 42 and '4:2' from any available source of electricenergy through the medium of anormally opening switch not shown butadapted to be closedby the operator to permitunlocking of the latchlevcrin the manner described. Y i

One of the binding posts l1; is electrically connected by a Wire -4%t0one.

of the binding posts of the adjacent 1 brush -39, the other binding posttO. and its corresponding brush 39 being connected by a wire 44 to oneend of the winding of the solenoid 2t.

The other terminal ,41- is electrically connected to the; adjacentgbinding post A01 and its contact brushv39' while the other-binding post+40- and corresponding brush of the segmental ring -38' isconnected bya,Wire 45 to the other 1 end of the winding of the solenoid -24.

The locking segment -20-- and rock shaft -34 extend in the samegeneral-die rection transversely of the axisof the stud -21,- in planesone above theother, the segment. being connected to thelatch rod .2atone side-of itsaxis While atithe, opposite side of said axis islocateda link -48 having its upper end connected by a ball and socketjoint 49+ to the corresponding end of the segment and its lower endconnected by a ball and socket joint +50- to acrank arm51- on the adja:

cent end of the rock. shaft 34' whereby rocking motion is imparted tothe shaft -31}- and its drum -36- as the segment is rocked verticallyabout its axis by the endwise movement of the latch rod When the latchrod -2- is forced to its extreme down position by its retracting spring1l-, the rock shaft -'-34 and its insulating drum v- 36' will beadjusted to withdraw the contact ring 38.- out of contact with the upperbrush 39' and in contact with the adjacent portion of the insulated drum,while the lower contact brush 39v willremain in contact with thesegmental ring at which'time, the shoulder 29- ofthe plungerconstituting a locking dog, will'be ininterlocking engagement with thenotch 30 of the segment --20, but

as previously stated, the peripheral length of the notch +;30- issomewhat greater than the corresponding'wi'dth of the dog 29 whichallows' a limited upward 'movement I i of the latchrod -2 beforeengaging "the rear wall of-the notch -i30-' with the dog 29- therebyeffecting a corresponding rocking movement of the shaft 34 and its drum36 sufiicient to bringthe contact ring 38 into electrical contact with Vthe upper brush -39othereby closing the circuit through and, aftercurrent is made available in the wires -i42 ,and -42' energizing thesolenoid winding and causing an upward movement of its plunger 26sufiicient to withdraw the dog -29= from the notch ,30. and toallow thefurther '7 closing of the latch rod 2 for releasing the latch not shown,v connected thereto,

7 which permitsthe free operation of the lever ,-'1+ fora-effecting thedesired operation of a 'switchor signal through the medium of theirconnections eitherwithone or both of thearms4--. I l I lVhen the leveris adjusted to the proper -position, the latchrod 2 isreleased torestore the latch and hold" the lever in such position, therebyrestoringthe insulating look as a wholean'd and 3 8 to their normalpositions :for. de-

energizing. the magnet and allowing the plunger to; be positivelyreturned to. its nor- 1 mal down positionby the engagement of the cam+33- withthe pin a. The direct connection between the segment 1-20- andlatch rod-+22? through 1 the medium of the pin -14="' and clamp 12,-together with the direct engagement of the locking dog ,29-' on theplunger 26 with the notch 30'in the periphery of the segment-andthepositiveaction of the cam on. the pin -32 for re-' turning the plungerto its normal'position,

enables the various parts of the'lock' to be assembled in compactrelation upon the lever I rying contact rings and i.-38'- .for

cooperation with their 'i-espective sets of brushes 39: -andl39otogether with the connection between thesegment 20 and V commutatorshaftwhereby the release of the lock Iismade dependent upon theenergizing of the solenoid which can only vbeeffected by=the:rotation'ofthev commutator drum .'.36', s'ufiicient to bring-thering.38"x

- into" contact Withthe upper brush Itiwill :also be noted that" thismovement of the commutator drumissm'ade dependent upon the-initialupward movement of the latch rod -"-9r--by means-of its handle9' whichassuresthe retention oftlie latchnin its holding position and consequentholding I 'of the lever in its adjustedposition until the erator. I aThis control of the locking device through the medium of the latch rod2- and "handle Y I latch rod is operatedbyan authorir ediop- 79ja'lsosimplifies the construction" of the greatly facilitates thecontrolof the lock; V F i connected" directly to and actuated by thev iI latch rod by a"limited "'movement of the latch 'rod for bringingintoact-ion means for, tripping the detent'as"- -26-; it is evident thatother means such as a floorswitchorequivalent device'might 'be'directlyconnected to the elect-ro-magnet %24 for tripping said detent. g 5

a Although I have shown and described means mounted on the'leve'r and'operatively I claim:

l. The combination with a latch lever and a latch operating membermovable relatively thereto, of means for locking said member againstmovement to its latch-re leasing position, and electrically operatedmeans brought into action by a limited movemeans brought into action bya limited movement or said rod tovvard its latch-releasing position forreleasing said locking means When current is available in theelectrically operated means. 7

3. The combination with a latch lever and a latch operating membermovable relatively thereto, and having a limitedmovement Withoutreleasing the latch, of means for temporarily locking said memberagainst movement beyond said limit, and electrically operated meansbrought into action by said limited movement for releasing the lockingmeans and permitting said member to be moved to its latchreleasingposition When current i available in the electrically operated means. Ir I.

4. The combination witha latch lever and latch operating member movablerelatively thereto and having a limited movement Without releasing thelatch, of arock arm carried by the lever and operatively ing memberoperatively connected to and actuated by said latch-releasing member,means for temporarily locking said rocking member against movementbeyondsaid limit, and electrically operated means brought into .action by thelimited movement of the rocking member for releasing the locklng meansWhen current is available in the electrically operated means.

5. A latch-lever locking device comprising in combination .With a handlever and a latch operating member, means for locking said memberagainst movement to- 1ts latch-releasing position including a rockerconnected directly to the latch releasing member, a detent for therocker-arm, said rocker-arm having a limited movement relatively to thedetent, andelectrically operated I 1 means brought into action by saidlimited movement for tripping the detent When current is available inthe electrically operated means. Q a

6. In a latch-lever lock, the combination With a lever and a latchoperating rod, of

' a movable member carried bythe lever and directly connected to the rodto be operated thereby, a detent for said member, andelectricallyoperated means brought into action by an initial movement ofsaid member for" tripping the detent when current isavailable'in theelectrically operated means."

7. In a latch lever l0ck, the combination With alever and a latchoperating rod, a pin operatively mounted on the rod, a'movable membermounted on the lever, and actuated by said pin as the latch rod isoperated toward its latch-releasing position, a detent for said member,and electrically operated means in the lever actuated by said member fortripping thedetentwhen can rent is available in the-electricallyoperated means. Y

In a latch lever lock of the character described, an electric lock and akeeper therefor, both mountedupou the lever, said keeper beingoperatively connected to and actuated by the latch'and having a sliglitmovement independently of the lock, and means actuated by theindependent movement of said keeper for energizing the lock andreleasing the keeper When current is availablein the electric lockcircuit.

9. In a latch lever lock of the character described, the combinationWith a lever and a latch rod movable relatively thereto, a movablemember on the lever operativelv connectcd'clirectly to andactuated bysaid rod, a detent for holding said member and lock and keeper beingprovided respectively with a locking bolt and a notch it'orreceiving thebolt, the notch being of slightly greater widthzthan the correspondingWidth of-the bolt to permit slight movement of the keeper relatively tothe bolt, means for transmitting motionfrom the latch to the keeperfor-moving the latter-relatively to the detent, and means actuated bythe keeper for closing the circuit through the'electric lock and therebyactuating the'detent to re lease the keeper when current is available inthe lock circuit. V

11. In a latch lever look, a keeper pivoted to the lever and operativelyconnected to the latch to be actuated thereby, a locking member adaptedto beengaged by the keeper for limiting the movement of said keeper andlatch operated thereby,- said latch and keeper having a slight movementrelatively to the locking member While" the latter is in its lockingposition, and means brought into action by the slight movement of thekeeper for causing the Withdrawal of the locking member from the keeper.

12. In a latch, lever lock of'the character described, akeeper pivotedto the lever and operatively connected to the latch to be actuatedthereby, said keeper having a peripheral notch, av locking bolt normallyengaging in the notch lor limiting the movement of thekeeper, said notchbeing of sufficient Width to allow a limited movement of the keeperrelatively to the bolt when the latter is in its locking position, meanszictuated by said limited movement of the keeper for keeper and lockingbolt respectively for returning the locking bolt to its locking positionwhen the keeper and latch are returned to their starting positions. i

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th clay of April,1924. e

- JOHN C. EDWARDS.

